System and method for delivering items using autonomous vehicles and receptacle targets

ABSTRACT

An autonomous vehicle for delivery of items can detect its location and the location of targets on item receptacles in order to position the vehicle at a receptacle. The vehicle, in an autonomous mode, can automatically travel between delivery points along a delivery route. A presence sensor on the vehicle can detect ingress and egress from the vehicle to determine when the vehicle is ready to travel to the next delivery point.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the presentapplication are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. Thisapplication is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/859,956,filed Jan. 2, 2018, which, in turn, claims the benefit of priority toU.S. Provisional Application Nos. 62/440,897, filed Dec. 30, 2016 and62/569,189, filed Oct. 6, 2017.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to the field of item delivery using autonomousor semi-autonomous vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect described herein, an autonomous delivery vehicle comprisesa a location sensor configured to detect the location of the deliveryvehicle; a target sensor on the vehicle configured to detect a targetassociated with a receptacle and to receive a signal in response todetecting the target; and a processor configured to determine thelocation of the receptacle based on the received signal; andautomatically move the vehicle to the determined location.

In some embodiments, the location sensor is configured to determine whenthe autonomous delivery vehicle is within a geofence corresponding tothe receptacle.

In some embodiments, the target sensor is configured to detect thetarget associated with the receptacle when the vehicle is determined tobe within the geofence corresponding to the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the location sensor is configured to detectgeospatial coordinates of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the target sensor is configured to detect thereceived signal reflected from the target on the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the received signal comprises specific locationinformation of the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to move thevehicle to the determined location based on the received specificlocation information of the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the processor is configured to receive a deliveryconfirmation and to autonomously move the vehicle to a next receptaclealong a route.

In some embodiments, the autonomous vehicle further comprises a presencesensor attached near a door of the delivery vehicle configured to detecta presence in the door of the delivery vehicle, and to initiate vehicleactions in response to the detected presence.

In another aspect described herein, a method of delivering an itemcomprises determining a location of an autonomous vehicle using alocation sensor; moving the autonomous delivery vehicle in proximity toa delivery receptacle; interrogating, using a target sensor, a targetassociated with a delivery receptacle; receiving a signal from thetarget in response to the interrogating; determining the location of thereceptacle based on the received signal; and automatically moving thevehicle to the determined location.

In some embodiments, determining the location of the autonomous vehiclecomprises determining when the autonomous delivery vehicle is within ageofence corresponding to the receptacle.

In some embodiments, interrogating the target occurs in response todetermining when the vehicle is within the geofence corresponding to thereceptacle.

In some embodiments, the location sensor determines the location of theautonomous vehicle by determining geospatial coordinates of the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the received signal from the target comprisesspecific location information of the delivery receptacle.

In some embodiments, determining the location of the receptaclecomprises determining the location using the received specific locationinformation of the delivery receptacle.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving a deliveryconfirmation and autonomously moving the vehicle to a next deliveryreceptacle along a route in response to receiving the deliveryconfirmation.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises detecting, via apresence sensor attached near a door of the delivery vehicle, a presencein the door of the delivery vehicle, and initiating vehicle actions inresponse to the detected presence.

In another aspect described herein, a method of delivering itemscomprises moving an autonomous delivery vehicle having a plurality ofitems thereon to a first delivery point; determining a location of afirst delivery receptacle at the first delivery point based on adetected signal from a target located on the first delivery receptacle;aligning the autonomous delivery vehicle with the first deliveryreceptacle based on the determined location of the first deliveryreceptacle; delivering one or more items from the plurality of items tothe first delivery receptacle; receiving a confirmation of item deliveryto the first delivery receptacle; moving the autonomous vehicle to asecond delivery point in response to receiving the confirmation of itemdelivery; sorting items intended for delivery to the second deliverypoint as the vehicle moves to the second delivery point; determining alocation of a first delivery receptacle at the second delivery pointbased on a detected signal from a target located on the second deliveryreceptacle; and delivering the sorted items to the second deliveryreceptacle.

In some embodiments, receiving the confirmation of item delivery to thefirst delivery receptacle comprises scanning, using a mobile deliverydevice, one or more items as the one or more items are delivered to thefirst delivery receptacle; and receiving a scan signal from a mobiledelivery device.

In some embodiments receiving the confirmation of item delivery to thefirst delivery receptacle comprises receiving a signal from a presencedetector located on the autonomous delivery vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will becomemore fully apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding thatthese drawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, thedisclosure will be described with additional specificity and detailthrough use of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an autonomousvehicle.

FIG. 2A depicts perspective view of a vehicle incorporating anembodiment of a system for identifying the location of a receptacle.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of electroniccomponents of the vehicle of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a network tocommunicate with an autonomous vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a process fordelivering an item using an autonomous vehicle.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of an autonomousvehicle for delivering items.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method of itemdelivery using an vehicle having a presence sensor.

FIG. 7A depicts a top cutaway view of an embodiment of an autonomousdelivery vehicle a standard configuration, taken along line 7A-7A ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7B depicts a top cutaway view of an embodiment of an autonomousdelivery vehicle in a modified configuration, taken along line 7A-7A ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a chart depicting an embodiment of vehicle and carrier routes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and make part of this disclosure.

Some embodiments herein relate to delivery of items using autonomous orsemi-autonomous vehicles. Some embodiments described herein include adelivery vehicle that has a configurable interior, for example, asteering wheel that can be retracted or folded to open space for adelivery resource to sort, organize, categorize, or stage items fordelivery. Some embodiments herein relate to a target or identifier on areceptacle, house, commercial building, apartment, or any other locationconfigured to receive delivery of an item.

Items are currently delivered by various distribution entities whodeliver to receptacles, such as mailboxes, to doorsteps, toindividualized boxes, and the like. In the case of the United StatesPostal Service (USPS), a delivery resource, such as a carrier, deliversto multiple addresses within a geographic area every day. Frequently thedelivery resource is assigned to a route, which includes a particularset of delivery points, such as addresses of businesses, residences, andthe like. Delivery resources may drive a vehicle to the beginning of theassigned delivery route, and then drive the vehicle along the route,stopping at each delivery point to deliver the items intended fordelivery to each delivery point. A delivery resource may need to sortitems intended for delivery at each location. Although sorting accordingto the delivery route may have been performed at a delivery facility,such as a post office, the delivery resource may still need to separatethe stack of all the items to be delivered on the delivery route intosmaller, segregated groups comprising items for delivery to eachaddress. The delivery resource may repeat at least portions of thesesame actions at each delivery point.

For example, a tray (or multiple trays) may have been loaded onto adelivery vehicle at a delivery facility, with the tray containing all ora portion of the items intended for delivery points along a particulardelivery route. At each stop, the delivery resource must identify whichof the stack of all the items are intended for delivery to a particulardelivery point, collect only those items, and place these items in areceptacle, on a doorstep, or in another designated location associatedwith the delivery point. The delivery resource then drives to the nextdelivery point along the route, or for which there are items intendedfor delivery. This process can slow the carrier's progress along aroute, costing efficiency, as the delivery resource spends time at eachdelivery point sorting items. By using an autonomous vehicle, or asemi-autonomous vehicle, the time spent in transit between deliverypoints is used to sort items for upcoming delivery points, improving theefficiency of item delivery.

Also, again using the USPS as an example, a carrier can drive a vehicleto a beginning point of a delivery route. The carrier can reconfigurethe driver compartment to move the steering wheel and prepare a stagingarea. The carrier can retrieve the tray of items intended for deliveryalong the route and place it in or on the staging area. The carrierinitiates an autonomous driving mode, and the vehicle identifies thelocation of the next receptacle, and drives to the upcoming deliverypoint without further input from the carrier. As the vehicle is drivingto the upcoming delivery point, the carrier sorts, isolates,consolidates, obtains, segregates, or identifies the items intended fordelivery at the upcoming delivery point. The vehicle has a sensingsystem to identify the exact location of the receptacle, for example,the mailbox, for the items, and when the vehicle is aligned with thereceptacle, the vehicle stops. With the vehicle stopped, the carrier candeposit the items into the mailbox, can deliver a package to thedoorstep, etc. The carrier then re-initiates autonomous mode, and thevehicle begins driving to the next delivery point, and the processrepeats itself. This process will be described in greater detail below.

As used herein, an autonomous vehicle may be fully autonomous andrequire no input from a driver via a steering wheel, accelerator, orbrakes, or may be semi-autonomous, that is, may be controllable by adriver, and then put into an autonomous mode. The terms autonomous andsemi-autonomous can be used interchangeably throughout this disclosure.Also as used herein, the term item can refer to mailpieces, envelopes,flats, packages, parcels, or any other deliverable object or commodity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an autonomous vehicleuseable for delivery of items. The vehicle 100 comprises a centralcomputer 101, and a plurality of sensors and detectors in communicationwith the central computer, which will be described below. The centralcomputer 101 is in wireless communication with a network as shown inFIG. 3. The connection can be a cellular, 3G, 4G, LTE, Wi-Fi, or anyother desired communication type or format. The central computer 101controls all of the vehicle's functions, including steering,acceleration, braking, signaling, and the like, using input and feedbackfrom the sensors described below.

The vehicle 100 comprises a location sensor 102. The location sensor 102is in communication with the central computer 101. The location sensorcan be a global positioning system (GPS), or other spatial locationsystem, including GLONASS, a multilateration system, LORAN,triangulation, and the like. The vehicle also comprises an odometersensor 104 in communication with the central computer 101 which trackshow far the vehicle 100 has traveled according to movement of thevehicle's axels, wheels, and the like. The vehicle 100 comprises asensor such as a video camera 106 for capturing video or images, thesensor in communication with the central computer 101. The video camera106 can observe road conditions, monitor the vehicle's surroundings, andread traffic signals, such as signs and lights. The video camera 106 canbe a stereo camera configured to determine distances, triangulateposition, and interpret depth and distance of objects within the fieldof view. The vehicle 100 further comprises ultrasonic sensors 107 andradar sensors 108 which are in communication with the central computer101. The ultrasonic sensors 107 and radar sensors 108 can be used todetect how far the vehicle is from an object, to monitor thesurroundings, such as the road, lane lines, other vehicles, pedestrians,and the like. The placement of the ultrasonic sensors 107 and radarsensors 108 in FIG. 1 is exemplary only.

The vehicle 100 also comprises a target sensor 110, which can identifythe locations of item receptacles, or identify targets on itemreceptacles. The target sensor 110 can be a radar detector, RF detector,and the like. In some embodiments, the target sensor 110 canadvantageously use a LIDAR system to identify the locations ofreceptacles. The target sensor 110 can also be configured to interrogatea receptacle, or a sensor on a receptacle, and read a response providedby a component of the receptacle. For example, the item receptacle mayhave an RF tag thereon, the RF tag storing specific instructions. Thetarget sensor 110 can activate the tag, in the case of a passive RF tag,read the emitted signal from the RF tag, and transmit the informationfrom the emitted signal to the central computer 101.

The vehicle depicted in FIG. 1 and the relative placement of componentsis exemplary only. In some embodiments, the vehicle 100 is a deliveryvehicle, such as a truck, a van, a cart, or any other desired type ofvehicle.

FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of a vehicle which includes anembodiment of a system for identifying the location of an itemreceptacle. A vehicle 200 comprises a central computer 201 (see FIG.2B), a location sensor 202, and a target sensor 210. The vehicle 200 maybe similar to those and include components similar to those describedelsewhere herein. The vehicle 200 can be assigned to a delivery route.The delivery route can be programmed into the central computer 201. Thedelivery route comprises a plurality of delivery points within a definedgeographical area. A receptacle 250 may be present at each deliverypoint.

The receptacle 250 may be a mailbox, a bin, a designated area of awarehouse or dock, and the like. In some embodiments, the delivery pointmay be a doorstep of a residence or commercial building. In the casewhere there is no physical receptacle, a defined area or specific placeat the delivery point can be referred to as the receptacle 250. Thereceptacle 250 comprises a container 260 for receiving an item fordelivery, and a target 270.

The target 270 may include a reflector, such as a LIDAR reflector, an RFtag, a computer readable code, or other unique identifier. The target270 may protrude from an outer surface of the container 260, or may beaffixed to a surface of the container 260 like a label or a sticker canbe affixed. The target 270 may be active or passive. The target 270 mayencode a unique identifier, such that the target 270 uniquely identifiesthe receptacle 250 to the central computer 201. In some embodiments, theunique identifier encoded in the target 270 corresponds to or isassociated with the delivery point. For example, the target 270 mayencode additional information related to the delivery point, such as theaddress of the delivery point, geographic coordinates of the deliverypoint, the name of a resident, company, or occupant of the house,building, additional delivery instructions, etc., at the delivery point.In some embodiments, the unique identifier is an alphanumeric code, abinary code, a RF signal, or other signal that uniquely identifies thereceptacle 250 to which it is attached. The unique identifier can beassociated with the delivery point in a database, as will be describedelsewhere herein.

FIG. 2B is an embodiment of a block diagram of network of components ofthe vehicle 200. The vehicle 200 comprises a vehicle network 205 whichincludes the components, sensors, motors, actuators, communicationslinks, electronics, and the like for controlling and effectuatingautonomous driving and the delivery functions described herein. Thevehicle network 205 comprises a central computer 201. The centralcomputer 201 comprises a processor, memory, communications pathways andmodules to enable the central computer to monitor and control all thefunctions of the vehicle 200. In some embodiments, the central computer201 can be embodied as a single hardware unit, or can be embodied in oneor more hardware units in communication with each other. In someembodiments, the various functions of the central computer 201 describedherein can be performed by separate computing devices, processors,software modules, hardware modules and the like, without departing fromthe scope of the present disclosure.

The central computer 201 is in electrical communication with thelocation sensor 202, the communication device 203, the odometer sensor204, the video camera 206, the ultrasonic and radar sensors 207, 208,and the target sensor 210, similar to those described elsewhere herein.The central computer 201 is also in communication with a vehicleinterface 215, a presence sensor 254, a seat sensor 258, and vehiclemovement controls 290. The vehicle interface 215 can comprise akeyboard, mouse, touch screen, voice command, or other desired inputdevice. The vehicle interface 215 can also comprise a visual, audible,and/or textual output device. The vehicle interface 215 receivesinstructions from an operator, delivery resource, or carrier asdescribed elsewhere herein, and displays instructions, alerts,communications, and the like to the operator, delivery resource, orcarrier. The vehicle interface 215 can be embodied on a computer, suchas a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, and can bemobile and removable from the vehicle 200. In some embodiments, thevehicle interface 215 can be built-in to the vehicle 200.

The presence sensor 254 can be an ultrasonic detector, a photoelectriceye, a motion detector, an infrared sensor, an optoelectronic devicesuch as a light curtain, an ultrasonic detector, or other type of sensorconfigured to detect when an object is within its sensor field. Thepresence sensor 254 sends a signal to the central computer when thepresence sensor 254 detects or senses a presence within its sensorfield, or when the state of the presence sensor 254 changes. Thepresence sensor 254 can also send signals to the central computer 201including the status of the sensor at a given periodicity, continuously,or upon request from the central computer 201. These signals can includewhether the presence sensor 254 detects a presence, or does not detect apresence, how long a presence is/was detected, and the like.

The seat sensor 258 can comprise a detector to detect whether an item,the carrier, a delivery resource, and the like, is in the seat. The seatsensor 258 can comprise a pressure sensor, a weight sensor, anoptoelectronic sensor, or any other desired sensor configured to detecta presence on a seat of the vehicle 200. The seat sensor 258communicates the status of the seat sensor 258, at intervals,periodically, upon a change of state, or when requested by the centralcomputer 258.

The central computer 201 is also in communication with vehicle movementcontrols 290, which can include acceleration, braking, steering, and anyother function of a vehicle required to drive a vehicle autonomously.The central computer 201 sends signals to and receives feedback from thevehicle movement controls 290 in order to drive, navigate, or move thevehicle along the delivery route, according to guidance or inputprovided by the other sensors described herein.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of a block diagram of a network to communicatewith an autonomous vehicle. A network 300 comprises a server 340, a userinput device 350, a mobile delivery device 360, and the vehicle 200. Theserver 340 is a central hub for the distribution network, and can beused for communication with one or more vehicles 200 and one or moremobile delivery devices 360. This communication can advantageously bewireless communication, but in some embodiments can be wired when thevehicle 200 or the mobile delivery device 360 is parked or docked, ornot in use on a delivery route. The server 340 comprises a communicationmodule 342 which enables the server to communicate via wired or wirelessinterfaces with each of the components of the network 300. The serer 340further comprises a memory 344, which stores instructions for operationof the server 340, and can store additional information received fromeach of the components of the network 300 as will be described elsewhereherein.

The vehicle 200 has an onboard central computer 201, which controls allthe electronic functions and driving functions of the vehicle, asdescribed elsewhere herein. The central computer 201 also communicateswith the server 340 via the communication device 203, over wirelesscommunication pathways, such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, 3G,4G, LTE, and the like.

The mobile delivery device 360 is a mobile computing device assigned toa delivery resource, and is used to scan items for delivery, to receivedriving instructions, to interface with the vehicle 200, and the like.The mobile delivery device 360 is configured to communicate via a wiredor wireless pathway with the server 340 to communicate scan events,delivery events, directions, and the like. The mobile delivery device360 is configured to communicate with the vehicle 200 via a wirelesscommunication protocol, such as Bluetooth, or via a wired connection,such as if the mobile delivery device 360 is docked in a dock within thevehicle 200. The carrier can interface with the vehicle 200 and give thevehicle 200 commands, such as start, stop, proceed to the next deliverypoint, and the like, via the mobile delivery device 360.

The server 340 is in communication with a database 346. The database 346can store information about the delivery points within a geographicalarea, such as within a country, a state, a city, a zip code, and thelike. The database 346 can also store delivery route information, suchas the coordinates of each delivery point along a specific route, thenumber of delivery points on a route, the identity of the carrierassigned to a delivery route, and the like. The delivery routeinformation stored in the database 346 can be communicated to thevehicle 200 or the mobile delivery device 360, or both. The database 346can be co-located with the server 340, can be part of the server 340, orcan be separate from the server 340.

The user input device 350 can be a computing device, such as a computer,a cell phone running an application, a tablet computer, or othercomputing device that communicates via a wired or wireless connectionwith the server 340. A user, such as a customer or resident at adelivery point can communicate with the server 340. The user can also bea supervisor or employee of the distribution network. A supervisor mayassign delivery routes, edit delivery routes, and modify or change otherinformation stored in the memory 344 or the database 346.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of a process for delivering an item using anautonomous vehicle. Process 400 begins in block 402, wherein deliveryroute information is identified. Delivery route information can includea delivery route identifier, the coordinates of delivery points assignedto a delivery route, unique identifiers associated with targets 230located at delivery points assigned to a delivery route, and carrieridentification. In some embodiments, delivery route information can bereceived at the vehicle 200 by an operator, such as a delivery resource,inputting a route identification number into the vehicle interface 215.In some embodiments, delivery route information can be received in thevehicle 200 via an operator, such as a delivery resource, logging into amobile delivery device 360, and pairing the mobile delivery device 360with the vehicle 200. For example, a carrier may be assigned to aparticular delivery route. This assignment can be a standard assignmentstored in the database 346, onboard the vehicle 200, or it can beestablished by a supervisor or other user via the user input device 350.A carrier logs in to a mobile delivery device 360, and/or into thevehicle computer, with unique credentials that are recognized by theserver 340. The server 340 accesses the carrier information in thedatabase 346 and determines which delivery route is assigned to thecarrier who logged in to the mobile delivery device 360. The deliveryroute information can be downloaded or transmitted to the centralcomputer 201 via the communication device 203 or to the mobile deliverydevice 360, and stored there for transmission to the vehicle 200. Insome embodiments, the mobile delivery device 360 is paired, such as viaa Bluetooth connection, with the vehicle 200. When the pairing isaccomplished, the mobile delivery device 360 can transmit the deliveryroute information to the central computer 201 of the vehicle 200.

In some embodiments, the mobile delivery device 360 can be paired orconnected to the vehicle 200, such as being in a dock in the vehicle,before a carrier logs in. The carrier can then log in and eitheridentify a delivery route, or a delivery route will be automaticallyidentified based on the login information and information stored in thedatabase 346.

After the delivery route is identified, further delivery routeinformation can be transmitted or communicated to the vehicle 200,stored in the mobile delivery device 360, or both. In some embodiments,coordinate data, such as GPS coordinate data, for each delivery pointassigned to the delivery route is received in the vehicle 200 and/or themobile delivery device 360. In some embodiments, unique identifiers forthe targets 230 associated with the delivery points assigned to thedelivery route can be received in the vehicle 200 and/or the mobiledelivery device 360. The unique identifiers for the targets 230 arestored for use later when identifying targets at the delivery pointsalong the delivery route.

After the delivery route information is received, the process 400 movesto block 404, wherein the vehicle 200 travels to the beginning of thedelivery route. The beginning of the delivery route can be stored in thecentral computer 201 as GPS coordinates or other types of geospatialcoordinates. After the first delivery point is identified, the vehicle200 can drive in autonomous mode to the GPS coordinates corresponding tothe beginning of the route using signals and input received in thelocation sensor 202. In some embodiments, the carrier may drive thevehicle to the beginning of the delivery route. The beginning of thedelivery route may correspond to the first delivery point along thedelivery route, or it may be a location in the vicinity of the firstdelivery point, such as at a street corner, intersection, etc. adjacentthe first delivery point.

The process 400 moves to decision state 406, wherein it is determinedwhether the vehicle 200 is in autonomous mode. If the vehicle 200 is notin autonomous mode, the process 400 moves to block 408, wherein thevehicle 200 is placed in autonomous mode. The vehicle 200 can placeitself in autonomous mode when the vehicle 200, using the sensors,including a location sensor 202, identifies that the vehicle is within apredetermined distance from the first delivery point. In someembodiments, the vehicle 200 enters autonomous mode when it comes withina geofence or predefined geographical area around the first deliverypoint. In some embodiments, the carrier can place the vehicle 200 inautonomous mode using the vehicle interface 215 or the mobile deliverydevice 360.

When the vehicle 200 is in autonomous mode, the process 400 moves toblock 410, wherein the vehicle drives to the first delivery point on thedelivery route assigned or identified to the vehicle 200. In someembodiments, the central computer 201 of the vehicle 200 has receivedthe address, or coordinates, such as GPS coordinates of each deliverypoint along the delivery route in block 402. However, in someembodiments, the vehicle 200 can be in wireless communication with theserver 340, and receive delivery point information as the vehicle 200 isalong a delivery route. For example, the server 340 may transmit to thevehicle 200 the delivery point information, such as address,coordinates, etc., to the vehicle for a first delivery point on deliveryroute. After delivering items, the vehicle 200 may send a signal to theserver 340 confirming the delivery is complete. The server 340 may thencommunicate the information for the next delivery point, to the vehicle200, and the vehicle 200 can proceed to the next point. In someembodiments, the server 340 can override the delivery route informationprovided in block 402, and send alternate instructions to the vehicle200 to proceed to a different delivery point than the scheduled deliverypoint. This can happen in the case of a priority item delivery, where anitem needs to be delivered at a certain time or within a certain timeframe. In some embodiments, the vehicle interface 215 can display theaddress, name, or other information about the upcoming delivery point sothe carrier can see the information. If the server 340 overrides adelivery point, the vehicle interface 215 can display an alert for thecarrier.

As the vehicle 200 travels to the delivery point, the vehicle uses itslocation identified by the location sensor 102 and other sensorsdescribed herein. As the vehicle 200 is traveling, the carrier canstage, prepare, sort, identify, or otherwise prepare the items fordelivery at the upcoming delivery point. In some embodiments, thecarrier does not ride in the vehicle 200 as it moves between eachdelivery point, but may walk alongside the vehicle 200, taking the itemsintended for delivery at one or more delivery points at a time. When thevehicle 200 comes within a certain distance of the delivery point, suchas determined by GPS coordinates, or comes within a predeterminedgeofence around the delivery point, the process 400 proceeds to block412 wherein the target 270 is detected.

To detect the target 270, the target sensor 210 emits a signal, scansfor computer readable codes, or otherwise interrogates the vehicle'ssurroundings to identify a target. For example, the target sensor 210can emit a LIDAR signal, such as laser light in a field around thevehicle 200. The target sensor 210 senses the reflected LIDAR signalsand interprets the reflected signals. The target sensor 210 canrecognize a reflected LIDAR signals and identify any known reflectionpatterns or signals to determine whether a target 270 has been detected.In some embodiments, the target sensor 210 begins to detect the target270 when the vehicle 200 moves within the geofence of delivery point, orwhen the vehicle 200 determines it is at the GPS coordinates of thedelivery point. In some embodiments, the target sensor 210 iscontinuously, or periodically emitting signals.

In some embodiments, detecting the target 270 includes scanning a fieldof view by the video camera 206 to identify computer readable codes, orby scanning the area using the radar and/or ultrasonic detectors 207,208 to detect a target 270.

The process 400 next moves to block 414, wherein the identity of thetarget 270 is confirmed. Confirming the identity of the target 270comprises uniquely identifying a target 270 as belonging to a particulardelivery point, a delivery route, a delivery carrier, and the like. Insome embodiments, the target sensor 210 may detect objects or receivesignals from objects other than an intended target 270. In suchcircumstances, the target sensor 210 and the central computer 201 canconfirm the identity of a target 270 as being the target 270 associatedwith a delivery point, with the delivery carrier, with a delivery route,and the like. In some embodiments, the vehicle 200 will not drive itselfto a target 270 which has an incorrect identifier, or which cannot beconfirmed.

The central computer 201 and/or the database 340 can store or access alist of identifiers for targets 270 along a specified delivery route. Asthe vehicle 200 travels along the delivery route and detects a target270, the target 270 can return a signal to the target sensor 210, whichthe central computer 201 can interpret and use to positively identifythe target 270. The central computer 201 can perform this verificationonboard the vehicle, and/or by transmitting the identifier to the server340 via the mobile delivery device or directly to the server 340, andreceiving a confirmation signal from the server that the identifier isassociated with the delivery point, or is a valid target 270 for thedelivery route. The server 340 can query the database 346 to confirm theidentifier, and report confirmation to the server 340, which, in turn,can report confirmation to the vehicle 200.

In some embodiments, the target 270 has a unique identifier encodedtherein or thereon, such that when interrogated by a LIDAR signal fromthe target sensor 210, a specific signal is returned. The specificsignal for the target 270 may have been stored previously in thedatabase 346 or onboard the vehicle 200 in the central computer 201. Insome embodiments, the target is a passive RFID tag which emits a signalwhen interrogated by a signal from the target sensor 210. In someembodiments, the target 270 is an active RFID tag which emits anidentifier signal at regular or programmed intervals, intermittently, inresponse to a signal from the target sensor 210, or continuously.

In some embodiments, the target 270 has a computer readable codethereon, which can be read by the video camera 106 and decoded by thecentral computer 201 or the server 340. In some embodiments, the target270 returns a specific signal when interrogated by a signal from thetarget sensor 210.

In order to confirm the identity of the target 270, the identifier whichis encoded, stored in, emitted by, or printed on the target 270 shouldbe known to one or more components of the network 300. The identifiersof the targets 270 along a delivery route can be obtained and storedprior to the delivery of items. The vehicle 200 can drive along thedelivery route with a carrier to obtain the identifiers. As the vehicle200 approaches a delivery point, the carrier can scan a target 270 usingthe mobile delivery device 360, and communicate the received identifierto the vehicle 200 and to the network 300. In some embodiments, thevehicle can identify targets 270 using the target sensor 210, which thecarrier can confirm using the vehicle interface 215. When an identifierfor a target 270 is confirmed, the central computer 201 and/or thenetwork 300 stores the identifier for use in delivery entity, thecarrier, and the like, such as the USPS, place the targets 270 on thecontainers 260. In this way, the network 300 knows the identifiersencoded, embedded, printed in, etc. to the targets 270 when they areplaced, and can associate specific targets 270 with specific deliverypoints. In some embodiments, the targets 270 are not specific to thedelivery points, but are specific to a delivery route. In someembodiments, the targets 270 only generally identify targets as beingassociated with the delivery carrier, such as with the USPS, and do notspecifically identify a delivery point.

In some embodiments, a resident, occupant, individual, business or thelike can buy, obtain, install, or provide a receptacle 250 having atarget 270 thereon or attached thereto. The resident or occupant canregister the target 270 with the network 300 via the user input device350, so that the target 270 will be recognizable to the target sensor210. The resident or occupant can input the delivery point, such as anaddress, along with a serial number listed on the target 270, a computerreadable code on the target 270, or other input from the target 270 intothe user input device 350. This can be done, for example, via a smartphone a mobile application, or a website, such as the USPS's website.The user input device 350 communicates the information input from thetarget 270 to the server 340, where it can be stored and associated withthe input delivery point.

The process moves to decision state 416, wherein the central computer201 determines whether the target 270 has been confirmed. If theidentity of a target 270 is confirmed, the process 400 moves to block418, wherein the vehicle identifies the location of the target 270 orreceptacle 250. When the central computer 201 confirms the identity ofthe target 270, the central computer 201 can cause the identification ofthe delivery point to display on the vehicle interface 215 or on themobile delivery device 360, or both. For example, the central computer201 can display the address of the delivery point, the name of aresident or occupant, the name of the commercial enterprise or business,or other information regarding the delivery point. The carrier can viewthe delivery point identification in order to know which items should beprepared for delivery at the identified delivery point, so they can besorted, prepared, etc. as the vehicle 200 moves to the receptacle 200.In some embodiments, the vehicle interface 215 may include aconfirmation request. The carrier can confirm that the displayeddelivery point is the next delivery point and press a button, input viatouch screen, voice command, and the like. The vehicle 200 may wait tomove to align or position the vehicle 200 at the receptacle 200 for thedelivery point until confirmation is received.

If the identity of the target 270 is not confirmed, process returns toblock 312, wherein the central computer 201 attempts to detect anothertarget in the vicinity. If no target 270 can be found, the vehiclealerts the carrier via the mobile delivery device 360 or the vehicledevice 215, and proceeds to the coordinates of the next delivery pointon the delivery route.

In block 416, the vehicle 200 identifies the target 270 for a deliverypoint. To detect the target 270, the target sensor 210 can be activatedwhen the vehicle 200 arrives at the coordinates of the delivery point.The target sensor 210 can send out interrogation signals, LIDAR signals,radar signals, and the like. The target sensor 210 can also receivecorresponding signals reflected or initiated by the signals sent fromthe target sensor. In some embodiments, the ultrasonic sensor 107, theradar sensor 108, the video camera 108 can identify the target 270 basedon a specific reflected sound or radar signal, or by recognizing aspecific pattern, image, or computer readable code on the target 270.

When a target is identified by the target sensor 210, the process 400moves to block 414, wherein the location of the target 270 isidentified. Identifying the location of the target 270 and/or thereceptacle comprises identifying the physical location of the target270, and of the container 260, and comprises identifying the location ofthe vehicle 200 in relation to the target 270. Identifying the target270 and/or the receptacle 250 location in relation to the vehicle 200allows the vehicle 200, guided by the sensors and the central computer201, to automatically align itself with the container 260, so thecarrier can deposit items into the container 260.

For example, the vehicle 200 drives automatically to a delivery pointaccording to stored or identified GPS coordinates of the delivery point.However, in some embodiments, a location sensor 102, such as a GPSmodule, can be accurate within a predetermined distance such as 1 foot,2 feet, 3 feet, 5 feet, 10 feet, 20 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet, or more.This level of accuracy may not be sufficient to ensure the vehicle islocated at the receptacle 250 for the delivery point. To ensure thevehicle 200 is aligned with the receptacle 250 or the container 260 intowhich the items are to be deposited, the vehicle 200 must identify theexact location of the target 270 and/or the receptacle 250 in order toposition the vehicle 200 properly.

In some embodiments, the target sensor 210 uses a near fieldcommunication, such as a passive or active RFID signal to determineexactly where the vehicle 200 needs to move to align with the target270. The target sensor 210 can send out a signal that is reflected bythe target, or which is absorbed or received by the target 270 and thetarget broadcasts a signal in response, or both. Using the reflected orbroadcast signal from the target 270, the central computer 201 candetermine the distance and direction of the target 270 in relation tothe vehicle 200. In some embodiments the vehicle, once the target 270has been identified, continuously, periodically, or intermediately sendssignals to and receives signals from the target 270, as the vehicle 200moves. Based on the continuous, periodic, or intermittent signals, thecentral computer 201 determines how the distance and direction to thetarget 270 are changing, and can instruct the vehicle 200 to moveproximate to and align with the sensor.

In some embodiments, the target sensor 210 or the video camera 106 canbe a stereo camera which detects the target 270, which can be an image,computer readable code, or unique identifier to determine the vehicle200's position with regard to the target 270. The stereo camera canalone or in conjunction with signals from the ultrasonic sensor 107and/or the radar sensor 108, determine the distance and direction of thetarget 270, and the vehicle 200 can move to the target 270 accordingly.

In some embodiments, the target 270 is an active RFID tag, which sendsinstructions in response to a signal from the target sensor 210, orwhich broadcasts a signal at a certain periodicity, or continuously. Thesignal from the active RFID target 270 can communicate specificinstructions to the vehicle 200. For example, the target 270 may not bephysically affixed to or attached to the container 260 of the receptacle250. The target may be on a street sign, a sidewalk, a fence, or otherposition near the container 260. In this case, the target 270 may tellthe vehicle that the container 260 is, for example, two feet forwardfrom the location of the target 270. The central computer 201 can thendetermine, from this signal, exactly how far to move the vehicle 200 toalign with the receptacle 250.

In some embodiments, the exact position of the target 270 and/or thecontainer 260 can be determined in advance of the carrier proceeding onthe delivery route. This can be accomplished by driving a vehicle alongthe delivery route to be mapped so the central computer 201 can learnthe contours, features, and the exact locations of the receptacles 250along the delivery route. The target sensor 210, the video camera 106,the ultrasonic sensors 107 and the radar sensors 108, can create anelectronic map or virtual map of the delivery route, including thelocation of the target 270. The map can identify targets 230 andidentify the distance between the target 270 and landmarks, terrain,environmental features, and the like. For example, a target 270 may beaffixed to a container 260 at a receptacle, such as a mailbox. Themailbox can be located near a tree, a flag pole, a reflective housenumber painted on the sidewalk, etc. The target sensor 210, the videocamera 106, the ultrasonic sensors 107 and the radar sensors 108, willidentify these landmarks and environmental features and calculate adistance between the landmarks and environmental features and the target270, and/or the receptacle 250.

These distances will be stored by the central computer 201 and may betransmitted to the server 340. As the vehicle 200 moves along thedelivery route subsequent to creating the map, the target sensor 210,the video camera 106, the ultrasonic sensors 107 and the radar sensors108, can identify and locate the landmarks and environmental featuresand, using the stored virtual or electronic map, the central computer201, based on the sensor input, can determine the distance from thevehicle 200 to the target 270, or to the receptacle 250. The vehicle canthen move the appropriate distance determined by the central computer201 to align the vehicle 200 with the target 270 or the receptacle 250.

The type of vehicle 200 can affect where the vehicle 200 must bepositioned to be aligned with the container 260 of the receptacle 250.For example, a small vehicle may have a window positioned near the frontof the vehicle through which the carrier can reach to place items in thecontainer 260. A truck may have a window nearer the center of thevehicle, or farther back from the front of the vehicle as compared tothe smaller vehicle. The central computer 201 recognizes the vehicletype, and incorporates the vehicle type when positioning the vehicle 200at the container 260.

When the vehicle 200 is positioned at or aligned with the container 260of the receptacle 200, the carrier places the items intended fordelivery to that delivery point in the container 260. In someembodiments, the vehicle 200 stops at the receptacle 200 while thecarrier delivers the items. In some embodiments, the carrier provides aninput on the vehicle interface 215 that the item delivery is complete,and the vehicle 200 can move to the next delivery point. Further detailsabout the process of the vehicle 200 stopping at a delivery point andproceeding to the next delivery point will be described below withreference to FIG. 6.

After item delivery is complete to a delivery point, the process 400moves to decision state 422, wherein it is determined if there areadditional delivery points remaining on the delivery route. If thereare, process 400 returns to block 410. To make the determination whetherthere are delivery points remaining on the delivery route, the centralcomputer 201 can track the progress of the vehicle 200 and deliveries tothe delivery points as the vehicle 200 moves along the delivery route.If, at the completion of delivery to one delivery point, additionaldelivery points remain on the delivery route, the central computer 201causes the vehicle to move to the next delivery point as described inblock 410.

In some embodiments, after completing a delivery, the carrier canconfirm to the central computer 201 that the deliveries are complete viathe mobile delivery device 360. The carrier can have the option toinstruct the vehicle 200 to proceed to the next delivery point along thedelivery route from the mobile delivery device 360, while the carrierwalks to the next delivery point. The vehicle 200 can function as amobile storage facility or mobile sorting facility. The carrier can takethe items for one, two, three, or more delivery points when the carrierexits the vehicle 200, and can instruct the vehicle 200 to move alongthe delivery route as necessary. In some embodiments, the carrier canexit and reenter the vehicle 200 at each delivery point. In someembodiments, the carrier can walk along the delivery route deliveringitems, such as flats, envelopes, and the like, and the vehicle 200 canmove along with the carrier, as the vehicle 200 detects the movement ofthe mobile delivery device 360 the carrier is holding, using, and/orcarrying. In some embodiments, the carrier can walk along the deliveryroute as the vehicle 200 moves to follow the mobile delivery device 360position, or as instructed by the carrier from the mobile deliverydevice 360. In some embodiments, the carrier can scan, interrogate,read, or otherwise interact with a target 270 using the mobile deliverydevice 360 as the carrier is not in the vehicle 200. The mobile deliverydevice 360 sends information from the target 270 to the central computer201 of the vehicle 200. The central computer 201 interprets theinformation from the target 270 and identifies the delivery point withwhich the target 270 is associated, and instructs the vehicle 200 totravel to the delivery point identified.

In some embodiments, as the carrier walks along the delivery routecarrying smaller items such as flats, envelopes, mail, and the like, themobile delivery device 360 can alert the carrier that a bulky item, suchas a package or parcel, is in the vehicle 200 and is intended fordelivery to an upcoming delivery point, prompting the carrier to returnto the vehicle 200 to retrieve the bulky item for delivery to thecontainer 260.

If there are no more delivery points on the delivery route, the process400 ends in block 424, and the vehicle 200 automatically drives or thecarrier drives the vehicle 200 back to the delivery facility.

FIG. 5 depicts an embodiment of a semi-autonomous vehicle for deliveringitems. A vehicle 500 is adapted to carry items for delivery, and canhave similar sensors, detectors, and the like similar to vehiclesdescribed elsewhere herein. The vehicle 500 comprises a door 550 formedin the side (as shown) or rear of the vehicle, which is operable toallow access to a compartment within the vehicle. The compartment may bea passenger compartment, driver compartment, and/or a cargo compartment.The door 550 is operable to allow a carrier to enter and exit thevehicle 550. In some embodiments, the door 550 is sized to allow aportion of the carrier's body, such as an arm, to extend from thecompartment out of the vehicle 500 in order to deposit items in areceptacle at a delivery point. The door 550 covers an opening 552, suchthat as the door 550 is open, the opening 552 is exposed or availablefor passage therethrough. In some embodiments, the door 550 comprises anopenable window through which the carrier can extend an arm. In someembodiments, an automated arm (not shown), such as a robotic arm, canextend from the compartment of the vehicle 500 through the door 550 toautomatically deposit items in a receptacle.

The vehicle 500 comprises a presence sensor 554 attached to a frame 555of the door 550 near the opening 552. In some embodiments, the presencesensor 554 is attached to the vehicle at a point near the opening 552 ofthe door such that the presence sensor 554 can emit signals into theopening 552 and/or sense signals from opening 552. The presence sensor554 emits a signal 556 and can detect when an object passes through theopening 552. The can be a motion detector, an infrared sensor, anoptoelectronic device such as a light curtain, an ultrasonic detector,and the like. The presence sensor 554 is configured to detect when anobject is within its sensor field, so as to determine whether an objecthas passed through the opening 552. In some embodiments, the presencesensor 554 is positioned above the opening 552 or along a side of theopening 552 to project or create a sensor field of signal 556 indirection parallel to the opening 552, such as in a plane parallel tothe door 554 and/or the opening 552. In this way, when the carrier exitsthe vehicle 500 or extends an arm through the opening 552, the presencesensor 552 detects the presence and sends a signal to the centralcomputer 201 regarding the sensed presence. The central computer 201 isconfigured to record an interruption in the signal 556, or a detectedpresence, and to record a time of interruption or presence. The presencesensor 554 can include a plurality of presence sensors 554 which arecollocated or aligned to create a plane or sensor field, with eachindividual sensor configured to detect presence or interruption in thesignal 556.

The presence sensor 554 is in communication with a central computer 201of the vehicle 500 and communicates the presence of an object, or abreak in the signal 556 to the central computer 201. The centralcomputer 201 interprets information from the presence sensor 554 andwith internal logic or programming determines whether the signals areindicative of carrier ingress, egress, or other activity through theopening 552.

The vehicle 500 further comprises a seat 558 for the carrier or deliveryresource to sit on, stage articles on, and the like while in thevehicle. The seat 558 can comprise a seat sensor (not shown) configuredto detect whether the carrier is on the seat, such as a pressure orweight sensor similar to those described elsewhere herein.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting an embodiment of a method of itemdelivery using a vehicle 500 having a presence sensor 554. A process 600begins in block 602, wherein the vehicle 500 is moves to a deliverypoint and the location of the receptacle 250, as described with regardto block 418 of FIG. 4. The vehicle 600 may come to a stop at thelocation of the receptacle 250 so that the carrier can exit the vehicleor extend an arm through a window to deposit the items to be deliveredin the container 260.

The process 600 next moves to decision state 604, wherein the presencesensor 554 determines whether a presence has been detected by thepresence sensor 554. The presence sensor 554 can detect when an objectenters the presence sensor space. If the presence sensor 554 detects apresence, which can last for a brief duration, such as if a carrierexited the vehicle 500 through the opening 552, the carrier will brieflyinterrupt the signal 556, and be detected by the presence sensor 554.Once the carrier is clear of the opening 552, the signal 556 will nolonger be interrupted, and the presence sensor 554 will not detect apresence. However, the interruption in the signal 556 and the presencewill be recorded in the central computer 201 as an event. Theinterruption in the signal can also be of a protracted duration, such asif a body part or robotic arm, or other object were maintained withinthe sensor field, or within the opening 552 for a prolonged period oftime. In some embodiments, the presence sensor 554 sends an initialsignal to the central computer 201 when the presence is initiallysensed, and sends another signal to the central computer 201 when thepresence is no longer sensed. In some embodiments, the central computer201 periodically or continuously monitors the status of the presencesensor 554, and records at intervals whether the presence sensor 554 isdetecting a presence, or whether no presence is sensed.

If the presence sensor 554 detects or has detected a presence, theprocess 600 moves to block 606, wherein the vehicle 500 stops movement,or movement is disabled. For example, the central computer 201, uponreceiving a signal from the presence sensor 554 detects a presence, thecentral computer 201 will not allow the vehicle 500 to move, or willdisengage movement, stop the engine, or otherwise prevent movement ofthe vehicle 500. Disabling movement of the vehicle 500 will ensure thevehicle 500 does not advance to the next delivery point without thecarrier being present in the vehicle, will increase carrier safety byensuring the vehicle 500 does not move while the carrier is out of thevehicle 500 and is, for example, walking around the vehicle, accessing acargo compartment to obtain a parcel, package, or other item, or isactively egressing the vehicle 500.

The process 600 next moves to decision state 608, wherein the presencesensor 554 determines whether a presence has been detected after thecarrier has egressed the vehicle, or after the initial presence wasdetected. If no second presence is detected, or if the signal 556 is notinterrupted a second time after decision state 604, the process returnsto block 606, wherein the vehicle 500 is maintained in a non-drivingstate, and the process 600 waits until a second presence is detected.

If a second interruption in the signal 556 is detected, or a secondinstance of detecting a presence occurs, the presence sensor 554communicates to the central computer 201 that a second presence has beendetected, and the central computer 201 records the event and the time ofthe event. The process 600 moves to block 610, wherein the centralcomputer 201 determines whether a scan event was recorded from themobile delivery device 360, as would occur as the carrier scans an itemduring delivery, or scans an item as it is deposited into the container,on a porch, at a delivery point, or otherwise delivers the item to thereceptacle 250.

The process 600 moves to block 612, wherein the central computer 201compares the times of the presence detection events and the location ofthe vehicle 500 during the presence detection events. For example, eachtime the presence sensor 554 detects a presence, the central computer201 can also record the vehicle position using input from the sensorsdescribed herein, including a GPS position sensor, an odometer sensor,LIDAR, ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, and the like.

In some embodiments, as described above, the carrier may not wish toreenter the vehicle 500 before travelling to the next delivery point,such as when the carrier is walking along the route, and the vehicle 500is functioning as a mobile container, or if the carrier sees that it issimpler, quicker, etc. to walk to the next delivery point rather thanreturning to the vehicle. In such a case, as described above, thecarrier can provide an input to the mobile delivery device 360 toinstruct the vehicle 500 to move to the next delivery point.

The process 600 then moves to decision state 614 wherein a deliveryevent is confirmed. Using information received in block 610, if thecentral computer 201 determines that a scan event was received from themobile delivery device 360 at a time between the first presencedetection and the second presence detection, the central computer 201determines that the first presence detection corresponds to a carrieregress through the opening 552, and the second presence detection eventcorresponds to a carrier ingress into the vehicle following completionof delivery to the delivery point. The central computer 201 confirmsthat a delivery event has occurred at a delivery point.

Referring to information obtained in block 612, the central computer 201can use the time of the presence detection events and the vehiclelocation to interpret the presence events and to confirm a delivery hasoccurred. For example, two presence detection events that occur within avery brief time period, such as half a second, 1 second, 2 seconds, 5seconds, or any other desired time period may be interpreted as not adelivery event, as sufficient time has not elapsed between presencedetections for a carrier to have made a delivery. The central computer201 can set a threshold value of, for example, 1 second, 2 seconds, 5seconds, or any other desired time period for this determination. If thetime between presence detection events is longer, for example, 15seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute, or any other desired time period, thecentral computer 201 can determine that sufficient time has elapsedbetween presence detection events to indicate the carrier has completeda delivery to the receptacle 250.

In some embodiments, the central computer 201 also determines what theposition of the vehicle 500 is at each presence detection event. If theposition of the vehicle 500 for two sequential presence detection eventsis the same, then the central computer 201 can interpret the presencedetection events as an egress and ingress, and can determine that adelivery has occurred. If the position of the vehicle 500 for twosequential presence detection events is not the same, the centralcomputer 201 determines that the presence detection events do notconstitute a delivery event.

The central computer 201 can make a determination of a delivery event,such as a carrier egress and ingress based on presence detection eventtime, vehicle 500 location during presence detection event, whether ascan event occurred between presence detection events, or on acombination of any or all of these events. In some embodiments, block610 may be omitted from the process, or block 612 may be omitted fromthe process. For example, when a scan event is determined to haveoccurred between the presence detection events, then the centralcomputer 201 may not need to determine or use the vehicle 500 locationinformation to determine whether a scan event has occurred.

In some embodiments, a carrier may not have an item for delivery whichis scanned using the mobile delivery device 360, and thus, no scaninformation from the mobile delivery device 360 is received. In thiscase, if no scan event is received from the mobile delivery device, thecentral computer 201 makes a determination regarding occurrence of adelivery event without a scan event signal. Thus, in some embodiments,the process 600 may omit block 610.

If a delivery event is not confirmed, the process 600 returns to block610. If a delivery event is confirmed, the process 600 moves to decisionstate, wherein it is determined if deliveries are complete for thedelivery route assigned to the vehicle 500 and the carrier. If noadditional delivery points are left along the delivery route, theprocess 600 moves to block 618, wherein the process ends.

If there are additional deliveries to be made on the delivery route, theprocess 600 moves to block 620, wherein the vehicle 500 moves to thenext delivery point. In some embodiments, moving to the next deliverypoint can include receiving a confirmation from the carrier via the userinterface 215 that the carrier is ready to move to the next deliverypoint. For example, the carrier may press a button, tap a touch-screeninterface, press on the brake or gas pedal, use a voice command, orotherwise provide an input to the central computer 201 indicating thecarrier is ready for the vehicle 500 to proceed to the next deliverypoint. In some embodiments, the seat 558 may contain a sensor to detectwhether the carrier is sitting in the seat 558. The seat sensor candetect when the carrier sits down in the seat and supply this signal tothe central computer 201. When the central computer 201 has determinedthat a delivery event has occurred as in decision state 614, and whenthe seat sensor indicates the carrier is in the seat, and therefore, inthe vehicle, the vehicle 500 can move to the next delivery point.

In some embodiments, the carrier can instruct the vehicle 500 to moveforward by drawing a pattern in the light curtain to signal to thevehicle 500 that the carrier is on board and ready to move to the nextdelivery point. For example, the carrier can pass an arm from the rearof the opening 552 toward the front of the opening 552, or from high inthe opening 552 to low in the opening 552, to trigger individual sensorsof a plurality of presence sensors 554. The sequential detection of apresence by the plurality of presence sensors can be interpreted as aninstruction to the central computer 201 to move the vehicle 500.

In some embodiments, the central computer 201 can move the vehicle tothe next delivery point after a predetermined wait time after thecarrier re-enters the vehicle. For example, after the central computer201 has determined a delivery event has occurred following a secondpresence detection event, the central computer 201 may wait apredetermined time, such as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, or anyother desired time, to allow a carrier to be seated or to prepare forthe vehicle 500 to drive to the next delivery point.

In some embodiments, the central computer 201 displays on the vehicleinterface 215 a notice to the carrier that the vehicle is going to beginmoving to the next delivery point. The notice can be a text warning, alight, a countdown timer, an audible signal, or any other desiredindication. After displaying the communication of imminent vehiclemovement, the vehicle 500 begins moving to the next delivery point,which can be located as described above with regard to FIG. 4.

The process 600 returns to block 602, wherein the process repeats forthe next delivery point.

The vehicle 200 can include the standard equipment to allow a carrier todrive the vehicle 200, including acceleration and brake pedals, asteering wheel, transmission controller, and the like. These componentscan take up room within the vehicle's compartment. With the vehicle inautonomous driving mode, the driving components, e.g., accelerator andbrake pedals, steering wheel, etc., need not be available to the carrieror vehicle operator. To increase the amount of space available to acarrier for sorting items, staging items for delivery to an upcomingdelivery point or group of delivery points, the pedals, steering wheel,transmission controller, can be adapted to fold up, articulate to adifferent location, stow into the vehicle 200, or otherwise be moved toopen more space in the vehicle 200's driver compartment.

FIG. 7A depicts a top cutaway view of an embodiment of a deliveryvehicle a standard configuration taken along line 7A-7A of FIG. 5. Adelivery vehicle 700 in includes a driver compartment 704 and a cargocompartment 706. The driver compartment 704 includes a steering wheel710, a chair 712, a door 714, an open area 716, and a dashboard 718. Thepositioning of the steering wheel 710 and chair 712 leave only a smallopen area 716 in which the carrier can sort or stage items for delivery.The steering wheel 710 and the chair 712 also impede easy movementbetween the cargo compartment 706 and the door 714.

FIG. 7B depicts a top cutaway view of an embodiment of a deliveryvehicle in a modified configuration. In the modified configuration thesteering wheel 710 has been folded or stowed into the dashboard 718, andthe chair 712 has been reconfigured to be a shelf or platform, or hasbeen reconfigured to receive a shelf or platform for sorting and stagingitems thereon. The modified configuration provides a larger open area715, and allows a carrier or delivery resource to move about the drivercompartment 704, and move between the cargo compartment 706 and throughthe door 714 with more freedom, with the steering wheel 710 and thechair 712 moved out of the way. Within the larger open area 715, thecarrier can prepare, stage, sort, or otherwise prepare items fordelivery to one or more upcoming delivery points as the vehicle 700moves autonomously to a delivery point, or between delivery points.

FIG. 8 depicts a chart of an embodiment of vehicle and carrier routes. Avehicle 800, which can be similar to those described elsewhere herein,can be an autonomous replenishment vehicle. The vehicle 800 can act as amobile warehouse or replenishment vehicle for resupplying carriers alongtheir routes at predetermined locations.

FIG. 8 shows an example using three carriers, C1, C2, and C3. Eachcarrier is assigned a route. As depicted, carrier C1 is assigned a route801, carrier C2 is assigned a route 820, and carrier C3 is assigned aroute 830. The routes 810, 820, and 830 can be standard routes, or canbe dynamically generated based on item volume, carrier availability, andthe like. Each route includes segments. For example, on route 810, afirst segment 812 begins at stop C1S1 and goes to stop C1S2. Thesegments 812, 814, and 816 can have a plurality of delivery pointstherein. Segments 822, 824, 826, 832, 832, and 836 can be arrangedsimilarly.

For example, as carrier C1 begins a route at stop C1S1, the firstsegment 812 can have 100 delivery points, or any other desired deliverypoints, which can be arranged in a walking order, or in any desiredpattern. The carrier C1 departs the vehicle 800, or a delivery unit 850with the items for delivery along the segment 812. In some embodiments,the segments can be dynamically allocated within the routes 810, 820,and 830 depending on item volume for a particular route. In someembodiments, a route can be divided into 2, 3, 4, 5, or more segments,with each segment having the same or about the number of items fordelivery along each segment. If there are a large number of items, or ifthere are large items, such as parcels that a carrier C1 could notcarry, then the route 810 is divided into more segments. In someembodiments, where a large, difficult to carry item is intended fordelivery to a particular location, that delivery location can be set asthe designated stop C1S2, C1S3, C2S2, etc. This allows the large item tobe delivered from the vehicle 800 to the delivery point without thecarrier C1 needing to carry the item along the route 810. The routesegment determination also takes into account the time the vehicle takesto travel between replenishment stops. As shown in FIG. 8, route 810 isdivided into the three segments 812, 814, and 816. In some embodiments,the route 810 can be divided into segments 812, 814, and 816 accordingto other factors, other than, or in addition to item volume, such ascarrier identity, route travel distance, route traversal time, or anyother desired criteria. The routes 810, 820, and 830 are divided intosegments having designated stops associated therewith. For example, thesegments 812, 814, and 816 each begin with a stop C1S1, C1S2, and C1S3respectively.

The carrier C1 departs the delivery unit 850 at set time, for example,8:00 AM. The carrier C1 leaves the delivery unit 850 with the itemsintended for delivery to locations along the first segment 812 of theroute 810. The carrier C2 departs the delivery unit 850 at a staggeredtime, for example, 8:15 AM, with items for delivery along segment 822,and the carrier C3 departs the delivery unit 850 at a staggered time,for example, 8:30 AM, with items intended for delivery along the segment832. The carriers C1, C2, and C3 can depart the delivery facility onfoot, or via the vehicle 800. In some embodiments, the start times arestaggered to allow the vehicle 800 time to transit between routes. Forexample, in some embodiments, the vehicle 800 drives the carrier C1 toroute 810, then returns to the delivery unit 850 to pick up the carrierC2, and delivers the carrier C2 to route 820, and so on.

After the Carrier C3 is dropped off at route 830, for example, at stopC3S1, the vehicle 850 returns to the delivery unit 850, where it isloaded with items intended for second delivery segments 814, 824, and834. In some embodiments, the carriers depart the delivery unit 850 onfoot, or by other means, and the vehicle 800 is loaded with these itemsat the delivery unit 850 before departing. The vehicle 800 can beconfigured to meet the carriers C1, C2, and C3 at designated stops C1S2,C2S2, and C1S3 to allow the carriers C1, C2, and C3 to get the itemsintended for delivery to the second segments 814, 824, and 834. When thecarriers C1, C2, and C3 have retrieved these items from the vehicle 800,the carriers C1, C2, and C3 continue with the second segments 814, 824,and 834 of their routes 810, 820, and 830. The vehicle 800 replenishesthe carriers Cl, C2, and C3 on a staggered basis, to allow time for thevehicle to transit between stops C1S2, C2S2, and C3S3 without making thecarriers C1, C2, and C3 wait. After replenishing the carriers C1, C2,and C3, the vehicle 800 returns to the delivery unit 850 to load theitems intended for delivery along the third segments 816, 826, and 836.

The carriers C1, C2, and C3 have mobile delivery devices as describedelsewhere herein, that can track the location of the carriers C1, C2,and C3. The mobile delivery devices send the carriers' location to thevehicle 800, either directly or via a computer network, to alert thevehicle to the carrier's location. By knowing the location of thecarriers C1, C2, and C3, the vehicle 800 can then plan or time itsdeparture from the delivery unit 850 or from a previous designated stop,to coincide with the time when the carriers C1, C2, or C3 is at adelivery spot, such as C1S2, C2S2, or C3S2.

To illustrate, an exemplary delivery day will be described withreference to FIG. 8. When the inventory of items to be delivered alongroutes 810, 820, and 830 is determined, the routes are divided intosegments, and designated stops, such as C1S2, and C1S3, are determined,based on the inventory of items and the time of completion as describedherein. On the exemplary day depicted in FIG. 8, routes 810, 820, and830 have been divided into 3 segments each, and two replenishment stopshave been established for each route.

Carriers C1, C2, and C3 begin the day at the delivery unit 850. Thecarriers C1, C2, and C3 retrieve, load, or obtain items intended fordelivery along the first segments 812, 822, and 832 of their routes 810,820, and 830, respectively. Carrier C1 departs at 8:00 AM to start theroute 810. Carrier C2 departs at 8:15 AM, staggered from carrier C1'sdeparture time. Carrier C3 departs, again staggered, at 8:30 AM.

The vehicle 800 is loaded at the delivery unit 850 with items for thesecond segments 814, 824, and 834. The vehicle 800 determines itsdistance from the first designated stop C1S2. When the mobile deliverydevice determines that the carrier C1 is a predetermined time fromarriving at the first designated stop C1S2, the vehicle 800 will departthe deliver unit 850 to rendezvous with the carrier C1 at the firstdesignated stop C1S2. The vehicle 800 travels along path 841 and meetsthe carrier C1 at the designated stop C1S2. The carrier C1 obtains theitems for the second segment 814, and continues with the route 810.

The vehicle 800 receives location information regarding the location ofthe second carrier C2, and determines the time it will take the vehicleto travel to designated stop C2S2. When the mobile delivery device ofcarrier C2 indicates that carrier C2 will arrive at C2S2 at withinpredetermined time, or time window, the vehicle 800 departs thedesignated stop C1S2 and travels along path 842 to meet the carrier C2at designated stop C2S2. In some embodiments, the vehicle 800 can driveto the designated stop C2S2 after the carrier C1 obtains the items fromthe vehicle 800, and continues along path 842 to designated stop C2S2,where the vehicle 800 can await the arrival of the carrier C2.

The carrier C2 obtains the items for second segment 824 and continueshis route. The vehicle 800 determines when the carrier C3 will be at thedesignated stop C3S2 and departs stop C2S2 to meet the carrier C3. Insome embodiments, the vehicle departs stop C2S2 after the items areretrieved by carrier C2. The vehicle 800 travels along path 843 todesignated stop C3S2, where the carrier C3 obtains the items fordelivery to the second segment 834. When the carrier C3 has retrievedthe items from the vehicle 800, the vehicle 800 travels along path 844back to the delivery unit 850.

At the delivery unit, the vehicle 800 is loaded with items intended fordelivery to delivery points along the third segments 816, 826, and 836of routes 810, 820, and 830. The process described with regard to seconddesignated stops C1S2, C2S2, and C3S2 are repeated, as the vehicletravels along path 845 to arrive at stop C1S3, path 846, to arrive atstop C2S3, and path 847, to arrive at stop C3S3. The vehicle 800replenishes the carriers C1, C2, and C3 at these stops, and the vehicle800 then returns to the delivery unit 850 along path 848.

When the carriers complete their routes, they return to the deliveryunit 850. In some embodiments, the vehicle 800 can again travel to theendpoints of the delivery routes and pick up the carriers C1, C2, andC3. This can occur at staggered end times, picking up carrier C1 at 4:00PM, picking up carrier C2 at 4:15 PM, and picking up carrier C3 at 4:30PM.

In some embodiments, the vehicle 800 carries items intended for morethan one route, as described above. To improve security and/or toimprove ease of access, items intended for delivery to each route can beplaced in a container or receptacle, or portion of the vehicle to whichaccess is restricted. For example, the container or portion of thevehicle containing items for route 810 can only be accessed by thecarrier C1 assigned to route 810. This can be accomplished using anelectronic lock, and using the carrier's mobile delivery device to actas a key to the lock. For example, the mobile delivery device knowswhich route the carrier is working based on a log-in, a routeidentification, and GPS breadcrumb data as the carrier C1 traverses theroute. The route information can be communicated to the electronic lockto confirm that the person requesting access is authorized and is thecarrier C1. In this way, a carrier cannot accidentally retrieve thewrong items from the vehicle. For example, carrier C2, who is servicingroute 820, will not be authorized to open the container or receptaclecontaining the items for delivery along route 810.

Additionally, as the vehicle 800 an autonomous vehicle, having anelectronic lock openable using the mobile delivery device as described,can prevent or deter theft of items from the vehicle as it is traveling.

In some embodiments, C1, C2, and C3 can be mail delivery vehicles whichare driven by carriers, and the vehicle 800 can be a truck or othervehicle that meets with the carrier delivery vehicles to replenish thecarrier delivery vehicles. A person of skill in the art will understandthat the systems and methods described herein can be applied to anylevel of a distribution network without departing from the scope of thedisclosure.

The technology is operational with numerous other general purpose orspecial purpose computing system environments or configurations.Examples of well-known computing systems, environments, and/orconfigurations that may be suitable for use with the invention include,but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-heldor laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems,programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, and the like.

The present disclosure refers to processor-implemented steps forprocessing information in the system. Instructions can be implemented insoftware, firmware or hardware and include any type of programmed stepundertaken by components of the system.

The one or more processors may be implemented with any combination ofgeneral-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmablelogic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discretehardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or anyother suitable entities that may perform calculations or othermanipulations of information. The system hub 110 may comprise aprocessor 111 such as, for example, a microprocessor, such as a Pentium®processor, a Pentium® Pro processor, a 8051 processor, a MIPS®processor, a Power PC® processor, an Alpha® processor, amicrocontroller, an Intel CORE i7®, i5®, or i3® processor, an AMDPhenom®, A-series®, or FX® processor, or the like. The processor 111typically has conventional address lines, conventional data lines, andone or more conventional control lines.

The system may be used in connection with various operating systems suchas Linux®, UNIX®, MacOS®, or Microsoft Windows®.

The system control may be written in any conventional programminglanguage such as C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, or Java, and ran under aconventional operating system. C, C++, BASIC, Pascal, Java, and FORTRANare industry standard programming languages for which many commercialcompilers can be used to create executable code. The system control mayalso be written using interpreted languages such as Perl, Python orRuby.

Those of skill will further recognize that the various illustrativelogical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described inconnection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented aselectronic hardware, software stored on a computer readable medium andexecutable by a processor, or combinations of both. To clearlyillustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, variousillustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have beendescribed above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether suchfunctionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon theparticular application and design constraints imposed on the overallsystem. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality invarying ways for each particular application, but such embodimentdecisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from thescope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signalprocessor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), afield programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device,discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in thealternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also beimplemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combinationof a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one ormore microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on ortransmitted over as one or more instructions or code on acomputer-readable medium. The steps of a method or algorithm disclosedherein may be implemented in a processor-executable software modulewhich may reside on a computer-readable medium. Memory Computer-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and communication mediaincluding any medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer programfrom one place to another. A storage media may be any available mediathat may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to storedesired program code in the form of instructions or data structures andthat may be accessed by a computer. Also, any connection can be properlytermed a computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein,includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatiledisc (DVD), floppy disk, and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproducedata magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media. Additionally, the operations of a method oralgorithm may reside as one or any combination or set of codes andinstructions on a machine readable medium and computer-readable medium,which may be incorporated into a computer program product.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the systems,devices, and methods disclosed herein. It will be appreciated, however,that no matter how detailed the foregoing appears in text, the systems,devices, and methods can be practiced in many ways. As is also statedabove, it should be noted that the use of particular terminology whendescribing certain features or aspects of the invention should not betaken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to berestricted to including any specific characteristics of the features oraspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the described technology. Such modifications and changes are intendedto fall within the scope of the embodiments. It will also be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that parts included in one embodiment areinterchangeable with other embodiments; one or more parts from adepicted embodiment can be included with other depicted embodiments inany combination. For example, any of the various components describedherein and/or depicted in the Figures may be combined, interchanged orexcluded from other embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety. To the extent publications and patents or patentapplications incorporated by reference contradict the disclosurecontained in the specification, the specification is intended tosupersede and/or take precedence over any such contradictory material.

The term “comprising” as used herein is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by,” and is inclusive or open-ended anddoes not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

The above description discloses several methods and materials of thepresent invention. This invention is susceptible to modifications in themethods and materials, as well as alterations in the fabrication methodsand equipment. Such modifications will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of this disclosure or practice of theinvention disclosed herein. Consequently, it is not intended that thisinvention be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, butthat it cover all modifications and alternatives coming within the truescope and spirit of the invention as embodied in the attached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for delivering items comprising:assigning a first delivery resource to a first delivery route, the firstdelivery route comprising a first segment and a second segment, thefirst and second segments divided by a first designated stop, each ofthe first and second segments comprising a plurality of delivery points;assigning a second delivery resource to a second delivery route, thesecond delivery route comprising a third segment and a fourth segment,the third and fourth segments divided by a second designated stop, eachof the third and fourth segments comprising a plurality of deliverypoints; loading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to theplurality of delivery points in the first segment with the firstdelivery resource; loading, at the distribution facility, items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment withthe second delivery resource; loading, at the distribution facility,items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second andfourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle; commencing deliveryby the first delivery resource to the first segment; commencing deliveryby the second delivery resource to the third segment; determining, in aprocessor, the location of the first delivery resource and an expectedtime the first delivery resource will arrive at the first designatedstop; determining, in the processor, a time for dispatching theautonomous delivery vehicle from the distribution facility such thefirst delivery resource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arriveat the first designated stop at or near the same time; loading from theautonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality ofdelivery points of the second segment with the first delivery resource;and delivering, by the first delivery resource, the items for deliveryto the plurality of delivery points in the second segment.
 2. The methodof claim 1 further comprising: determining, in the processor, thelocation of the second delivery resource and an expected time the seconddelivery resource will arrive at the second designated stop;determining, in the processor, a time of dispatching the autonomousdelivery vehicle from the first designated stop so the second deliveryresource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the seconddesignated stop at or near the same time; loading from the autonomousdelivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery pointsof the fourth segment with the second delivery resource; and delivering,by the second delivery resource, the items for delivery to the pluralityof delivery points in the fourth segment.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein commencing delivery by the second delivery resource to the thirdsegment occurs at a set time after the first delivery resource hascommenced delivery.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein loading items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second and fourthsegments in an autonomous delivery vehicle comprises: loading the itemsfor delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second segmentare loaded into a first compartment in the autonomous delivery vehicle;and loading the items for delivery to the plurality of delivery pointsof the fourth segment are loaded into a second compartment in theautonomous delivery vehicle.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the firstcompartment comprises a first electronic lock to restrict access to thefirst compartment, and wherein the second compartment comprises a secondelectronic lock to restrict access to the second compartment.
 6. Themethod of claim 2, wherein loading from the autonomous delivery vehicle,items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of the secondsegment with the first delivery resource comprises unlocking the firstcompartment by the first delivery resource at the first designated stop;and wherein loading from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points of the fourth segment withthe second delivery resource comprises unlocking the second compartmentby the second delivery resource at the second designated stop.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the first compartment comprises a firstelectronic lock and the second compartment comprises a second electroniclock; wherein unlocking the first compartment comprises using a mobilecomputing device of the first delivery resource as an electronic key tounlock the first electronic lock; and wherein unlocking the secondcompartment comprises using a mobile computing device of the seconddelivery resource as an electronic key to unlock the second electroniclock.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: storing, in thefirst electronic lock, geographic coordinates of the first designatedstop; and storing, in the second electronic lock, geographic coordinatesof the second designated stop.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinunlocking the first compartment using the mobile computing device of thesecond delivery resource as an electronic key comprises: comparing, inthe first electronic lock, the geographic location of the mobilecomputing device of the first delivery resource with the storedgeographic coordinates of the first designated stop; and unlocking thefirst electronic lock on the first compartment only when the geographiclocation of the mobile computing device of the first delivery resourceis within a threshold distance of the stored geographic coordinates ofthe first designated stop; and wherein unlocking the second compartmentusing the mobile computing device of the second delivery resource as anelectronic key comprises: comparing, in the second electronic lock, thegeographic location of the mobile computing device of the seconddelivery resource with the stored geographic coordinates of the seconddesignated stop; and unlocking the second electronic lock only when thegeographic location of the mobile computing device of the seconddelivery resource is within a threshold distance of the storedgeographic coordinates of the second designated stop.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: delivering in the autonomous deliveryvehicle, the first delivery resource, to a first stop of the pluralityof stops in the first segment; and returning the autonomous deliveryvehicle to the distribution facility prior to loading, at thedistribution facility, items for delivery to the plurality of deliverypoints of the second and fourth segments in the autonomous deliveryvehicle.
 11. A system for delivering items comprising: an autonomousdelivery vehicle; a first delivery resource having a first mobilecomputing device; a second delivery resource having a second mobilecomputing device; a processor configured to: assign the first deliveryresource to a first delivery route, the first delivery route comprisinga first segment and a second segment, the first and second segmentsdivided by a first designated stop, each of the first and secondsegments comprising a plurality of delivery points; assign the seconddelivery resource to a second delivery route, the second delivery routecomprising a third segment and a fourth segment, the third and fourthsegments divided by a second designated stop, each of the third andfourth segments comprising a plurality of delivery points; directloading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to the pluralityof delivery points in the first segment with the first deliveryresource; direct loading, at the distribution facility, items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment withthe second delivery resource; direct loading, at the distributionfacility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of thesecond and fourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle; determinethe location of the first delivery resource and an expected time thefirst delivery resource will arrive at the first designated stop;determine a time for dispatching the autonomous delivery vehicle fromthe distribution facility such the first delivery resource and theautonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the first designated stop ator near the same time; dispatch the autonomous vehicle to the firstdesignated stop at the determined time; and send instructions to thefirst mobile computing device for the first delivery resource to load,from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to theplurality of delivery points of the second segment.
 12. The system ofclaim 11 wherein the processor is further configured to: determine thelocation of the second delivery resource and an expected time the seconddelivery resource will arrive at the second designated stop; determine atime of dispatching the autonomous delivery vehicle from the firstdesignated stop so the second delivery resource and the autonomousdelivery vehicle will arrive at the second designated stop at or nearthe same time; dispatch the autonomous delivery vehicle from the firstdesignated stop to the second designated stop; and send instructions tothe second mobile computing device for the second delivery resource toload from the autonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to theplurality of delivery points of the fourth segment.
 13. The system ofclaim 12, wherein the autonomous delivery vehicle comprises a firstcompartment and a second compartment, and wherein the processor isfurther configured to: direct loading the items for delivery to theplurality of delivery points of the second segment into the firstcompartment; and direct loading the items for delivery to the pluralityof delivery points of the fourth segment into the second compartment.14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first compartment comprisesfirst electronic lock and wherein the second compartment comprises asecond electronic lock.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the firstmobile computing device comprises an electronic key for opening thefirst electronic lock electronic lock and wherein the second mobilecomputing device comprises an electronic lock configured to open thesecond electronic lock
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the firstelectronic lock stores geographic coordinates of the first designatedstop, and wherein the second electronic lock stores geographiccoordinates of the second designated stop.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the first electronic lock is configured to: receive, from thefirst mobile computing device, a geographic location of the first mobilecomputing device; compare the geographic location of the first mobilecomputing device to the geographic coordinates of the first designatedstop; and unlock the first compartment only when the geographic locationof the first mobile computing device is within a threshold distance ofthe geographic coordinates of the first designated stop.
 18. The systemof claim 17, wherein the second electronic lock is configured to:receive, from the second mobile computing device, a geographic locationof the second mobile computing device; compare the geographic locationof the second mobile computing device to the geographic coordinates ofthe first designated stop; and unlock the second compartment only whenthe geographic location of the second mobile computing device is withina threshold distance of the geographic coordinates of the seconddesignated stop.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: dispatch, in the autonomous delivery vehicle, thefirst delivery resource to a first stop of the plurality of stops in thefirst segment; and to direct the autonomous delivery vehicle to returnto the distribution facility from the first stop of the plurality ofstops in the first segment prior to directing loading, items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points of the second and fourthsegments in the autonomous delivery vehicle.
 20. A system for deliveringitems comprising: means for assigning a first delivery resource to afirst delivery route, the first delivery route comprising a firstsegment and a second segment, the first and second segments divided by afirst designated stop, each of the first and second segments comprisinga plurality of delivery points; means for assigning a second deliveryresource to a second delivery route, the second delivery routecomprising a third segment and a fourth segment, the third and fourthsegments divided by a second designated stop, each of the third andfourth segments comprising a plurality of delivery points; means forloading, at a distribution facility, items for delivery to the pluralityof delivery points in the first segment with the first deliveryresource; means for loading, at the distribution facility, items fordelivery to the plurality of delivery points in the third segment withthe second delivery resource; means for loading, at the distributionfacility, items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points of thesecond and fourth segments in an autonomous delivery vehicle; means fordetermining the location of the first delivery resource and an expectedtime the first delivery resource will arrive at the first designatedstop; means for determining a time for dispatching the autonomousdelivery vehicle from the distribution facility such the first deliveryresource and the autonomous delivery vehicle will arrive at the firstdesignated stop at or near the same time; and means for loading from theautonomous delivery vehicle, items for delivery to the plurality ofdelivery points of the second segment with the first delivery resource.